FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

What did Dad have in mind? David thought. The light-brown deer paced back and forth in his student room. Today was his birthday. A lot of people had already wished the light-brown deer a happy eighteenth birthday. Some of these wishes came from true friends; many came from people only interested in his good looks or in his family's wealth.

David was the only son of Edward Reichswald. Inheriting an industrial empire, Edward complemented it with wise financial investments in Silicon Valley start-ups. As such, David's family was insanely rich, and David's company was often sought in parties and other social events.

His father's successful endeavors were not exempt of drawbacks. It has been months since the young deer saw his father face-to-face. However, he could see that his father still cared for him and tried to do his best to not let his son feel alone. For instance, Edward made a point of video-calling his son regularly. Even if the two deers were not able to meet face-to-face, they gave news to each other frequently. The young cervid also received a lot of travel souvenirs from his father, by the mail.

The parcel that he received for his birthday was a weird one, though: an silver medallion, a sealed envelope, and a short note from his father, which read:

Hello, son.

Happy eighteenth birthday. You grew up so fast! I'm so proud of you.

This year, I sent you a very special birthday gift. One that will take you to a place filled with bizarre and pleasure. A place, whose access I received from my father, which received it from his own father, etc. That kind of drill.

Read the letter inside the envelope, and follow its instructions to the letter. Just like me, you may believe at the beginning that this is merely a bad joke, but trust me: I am sure that you will like it.

Take care, son, and have fun,

Dad.

The deer took another look at the medallion. What he previously thought was silver, was actually very expensive platinum. The front of the medallion is engraved with the motive of a comedy mask, and the back with the picture of a tragedy mask. Quaint, but not_that_unusual.

David's focus shifted to the envelope, and the instructions within. David frowned as he read the message. At first glance, it looked like a mix between a user agreement document and a satanic ritual instruction manual:

Mr David Reichswald,

The Dark Fair invites you to enjoy its numerous, wonderful games and rides. Our centuries-old experience will ensure that you will spend a wonderful day among your peers

Requirements are as follow:

• You must be eighteen (18) years old or older
• You must have either paid the entry fee OR one of your relatives must have visited the fair during the last fifty (50) years
• Clothes are forbidden on the fair grounds

Instructions to access the Fair are as follow:

• Place yourself in front of a closed door; any kind of door works as long as you cannot see on the other side (no windows, no bull's-eye)
• Apply the medallion flat on the door
• Recite the following incantation in a clear voice, three times in a row: Eucharisto ton Dionuso, kai tapeina na Dsetesei ten prosbase ste sphaira tis sarkikes apolauseis
• Open the door
• _ Make sure that you are wearing the medallion and step forward._Keep advancing until you reach the Fair
• Enjoy yourself. First-time patrons will receive further instructions inside

The Dark Fair staff declines responsibility, if the prospective visitor does not follow our instructions.

Have a nice day, Mr David Reichswald, we expect see you soon,

The Dark Fair Manager

P.S.: if you do not wish to use your entry rights, please do not disclose the Fair's existence. Breach of this request will oblige us to revoke your access rights, as well as the one of your blood relatives, past, present and future.

David read the letter twice, then a third time, to be sure of what was written. Each 'requirement' was more puzzling than the other, and the 'instructions' looked like some kind of weird voodoo ritual to him.It is a good thing that I read Dad's note first, he thought._It's worth doing a try, I guess._Holding on this thought, David closed the door to his bedroom. He pressed the medallion on the wooden surface and recited the sentence marked on the paper; it sounded like ancient Greek. The eighteen years-old deer repeated his lecture two more times. As soon as he finished reciting the words for the third time, he felt a rush of heat coming through the door. He quickly put the medallion around his neck, and cautiously opened the door.

This is not my living room. A simple observation, which is the best David's brain could produce in his state of astonishment. The apartment beyond the door has disappeared, replaced by a tight, puffy, flesh-colored tunnel. The eldritch apparition pulsated, as if it was alive. It almost looks like... No, that's the last thing he should worry about.How did this happen? What...do I need to squeeze through this?_David was confused. He was about to back out and close the door again when he remembered his father's words. "Trust me"._Trust you, huh? That's one bizarre gift you got me, Dad, you will have some explaining to do.

On this last internal monologue, David took a deep breath, then he took out his clothes, folded them and put them on his bed. Then, he stepped forward, and slipped inside the organ-like entrance. Now that his fur touched it, it felt more rubbery than fleshy. It was still warm on the touch, and generously coated with some kind of oily substance. The medallion emitted a strong light in the dark. The light actually seemed to repel the walls of this strange place, making David's progression easier.

Not long after his bedroom door shut, he started to hear noise up ahead. Music, people shouting, mechanical noises. The cervid persevered and pushed his way forward. The pinkish walls suddenly gave way as David reached the other side. Unbalanced, he tumbled forward and landed on all fours.

"Ah, a newcomer, isn't it," a female voice said. David looked up to see a naked tigress, covered head to toe in shiny orange latex, wave at him. "Welcome to the Dark Fair, Mister Reichswald."